Metatarsal half sole



Spt. 23, 1930. w. c. BURNS 1,176,750

METATARSAE" HALF- SOLE Filed Aug. 5, 1929 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1930 WILLIAM C. BURNS, 0F ENDICOT'I, NEW YORK METATARSAL HALF SOLE Application filed August 5, 1929.. Serial N'o. 383,638.

The primary'object of this invention is the provision of a metatarsal half sole for shoes, which is of an extremely simple nature, readily applied to any type of shoes, which will cushion and materially aid the user in walking by relieving undue pressure upon the metatarsal bones of thefoot, and which will give freedom to the toes, one which will build up the foot to its natural proportion, strengthen the same and afford the user the same pleasant experience as if he were walking with bare feet in soft sand or like soft yielding surfaces.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a shoe having my improvement, attached to the sole thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a shoe with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the improvement approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional View approximately on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an approximately similar sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

My improved cushioning metatarsal half sole may be constructed of scrap leather formed from three pieces or strips. The upper and comparatively thin strip 1 is stitched or otherwise effectively secured to the sole. 2 of the shoe 3, at the edges of the said shoe, and likewise at the bevel between the sole and heel of the shoe. The rear edge or end of the strip 1 is cut at an inclination from the inner to the outer edge of the sole 2 of the the strip 4 is cut at the same angle as that shoe. I glue or otherwise effectively secure to the strip 1 adjacent to the rear edge or end thereof a comparatively thick cushioning strip 4 which is also comparatively wide, and

forward of this strip 4, and below the portion of the shoe upon which the toes of the wearer rest there is a narrower strip 5 of the same thickness as the strip 4. The rear edge of of the strip 1, the front edge of the said strip being curved to correspond with the outer 4 is gradually inclined from the inner edge thereof, and consequently from the inner edge of the shoe sole to the outer edge thereof. The last mentioned edge of the strip 4 is concaved inwardly, as at 6, to provide a space over which the first metatarsal bone of the foot rests, the remaining metatarsal bones of the foot being disposed or arranged over the body of the strip 4.

While the toes of the foot are arranged directly over the forward strip 5, the comparatively thin connection between the strips 4 and 5, afforded by the strip 1 permits of a free movement of the toes, and the forward edge of the said strip 5 affords an abutment or contact portion which will prevent the forward edge or toe portion of the shoe being contacted by an obstacle during the walking of the user of the shoe. The strips 4 and 5 also provide the shoe with anti-slipping ele ments, so that the wearer can walk with safety on icy surfaces or the like.

At the factory a large quantity of scrap leather is wasted, and my improvement can be made of such scraps. This obviously cheapens the manufacture of the improvement. The improvement is comparatively light and will not materially add to the weight of the shoe upon which it is attached. As a matter-of-fact the shoe is rendered lighter as there is no wear on the sole under the shank or under the heel thereof. The improvement will materially lengthen the life of the shoe. The improvement takes the weight of the wearer ofi of the metatarsal bones of the foot and places such weight just back of these bones as disclosed by the dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. This will build up the foot and strengthen the muscles thereof. By removing the-weight from the metatarsus, come and callouses cannot occur and, when the wearers foot is thus afflicted, the improvementwill not only relieve pain from such causes but such corns and callouses will disappear as the foot assumes its normal condition. It is well known that callouses and corns are occasioned by friction which curs most frequently for the reason that there is no cushioning efi'ect afiorded by the ordinary type of shoes. Nature provides the callous to protect the bones of the foot, and by producing a cushioning that is thinner under the bones and thicker under the part of the foot cushioned with these muscles the meritorious features of my improvement will be readily understood and appreciated.

It is well known that the wear on a shoe sole is most frequent at the part thereof that supports the metatarsus bones and my improvement enlarges this surface and consequently adds to the wear thereof. The improvement may be molded from rubber and either formed with or attached to a rubber soled shoe or boot, or the same may be molded with the sole of such rubber shoes or boots. In the latter instance the thin body and cutaway portions of the half sole will naturally 5 reduce the weight thereof, and the weight of rubber soled shoes is the greatest objection to this class of articles.

- Having described the invention, I claim:

A metatarsal half-sole embodying an inherent elasticity, comprising a thm body sheet having rearward and forward transverse enlargements, the forward enlargement being of an equal thickness throughout and designed to receive thereover the toes of the foot, the rearward enlargement being wider than the outer enlargement and being gradually inclined from the inner side to the outer side, the thin end of the said enlarge ment having an inwardly depressed portion over which the first metatarsal bone of the foot rests, while the remaining metatarsal bones of the foot rest directly over the said enlargement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

WILLIAM C. BU NS. 

